External review vs pentestExternal review or pentest?
External review or pentest?
The right call for your SMB.
Two approaches, two philosophies. An external review observes without touching. A pentest attacks to test. Here is how to pick the right one for your web application.
Detailed comparison
| Criterion | External review | Traditional pentest |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Passive observation, no access required | Simulated attack, access and authorization required |
| Duration | Findings in hours, report in 48h | Typically 2 to 6 weeks |
| Production impact | Zero, no changes to your systems | Risk of disruption during testing |
| Access required | None, analysis from the outside | Accounts, VPN, technical documentation |
| Typical SMB cost | €1,900 to €4,200 | €5,000 to €20,000+ |
| What it finds | Exposure flaws, open APIs, accessible data, misconfigurations | Active exploitation, injection, privilege escalation |
| Best fit | SMBs with no security team, first audit, GDPR compliance | Companies with a security team, pre-production testing, advanced compliance |
| Report | Reproducible evidence, GDPR context, remediation plan | Detailed intrusion report, attack paths |
Pick an external review if...
- Your web application has never been audited
- You do not have a dedicated security team
- You want fast results with zero production disruption
- You need to document a security process for GDPR
- Your budget is tight but the risk is real
Pick a pentest if...
- You have already fixed exposure flaws and want to go deeper
- Your industry requires formal intrusion testing (DORA, advanced PCI-DSS)
- You have a technical team that can support active testing
- You are preparing for ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification